Matrix

Matrix is an open standard for interoperable, decentralised, real-time communications. KDE is officially using Matrix for collaboration for KDE, superseding more antiquated and closed source services. Matrix is an open protocol and network for decentralized communication, backed by an open standard and open source reference implementations for servers, clients, client SDKs, bridges, bots and more. It provides all the features you’d expect from a modern chat system: infinite scrollback, file transfer, typing notifications, read receipts, presence, search, push notifications, stickers, VoIP calling and conferencing, etc. It even provides end-to-end encryption (based on Signal’s double ratchet algorithm) for when you want some privacy.

Furthermore, Matrix natively supports bridges to other protocols, such as IRC (the official KDE messaging channel). This means that you can use a Matrix client to join and use IRC channels like if they were Matrix rooms.

Choose a cool nickname and set your password. You can include an email if you ever need to recover your password, but this is optional. Click Register.

VERY IMPORTANT: Carefully read the message System Alerts sends you when you first enter. You will be required to read and accept the Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions before you can join any rooms. Click the link, read the text, scroll to the bottom and check the checkboxes if you agree.

On revisiting the webchat, you will be able to participate in the conversation with the rest of the KDE community.

That's it! You can start chatting with members of KDE's community.

Using the Riot desktop client

Download the desktop client from Riot's website. APT repositories with Debian/Ubuntu packages are provided. Your mileage may vary for other distributions. The latest stable version number is listed on Riot's GitHub releases page and is the version number you should aim for.

Registration is the same process as the steps above. Make sure you select Premium hosting and input https://kde.modular.im as the Server Name if you would like a Matrix account on KDE's Modular homeserver.

Using the Riot client for mobile

Currently Riot only supports having one account

In Signin/Register select the Use custom server options (Advanced) option to set the following

Local communities

How to Add Your Existing IRC Channel as Room

Note

This only needs to be done once by an IRC operator. After that all users may use the more convenient local room name to join.

/join #_freenode_#YOUR_CHANNEL:kde.org

On the IRC side you need to OP your matrix user, so either use a temporary nick on Matrix, or add multiple nicks to your IRC identity and use a different one on Matrix and IRC, or have a fellow OP give you OP privileges

Setup a local alias for kde.org via the matrix room settings

Leave room again

Join via local alias e.g. /join #YOUR_CHANNEL

Everyone can now join your room via the #YOUR_CHANNEL locally and #YOUR_CHANNEL:kde.org in the Matrix

Where you can setup the alias depends on the client you use. For webchat.kde.org it'll look a bit like this:

You may additionally want to mark the room as published in the directory (so one can search for it) and set the KDE flair +kde:kde.org (so a fancy KDE flair will get shown; currently not set up). Both settings on webchat.kde.org are immediately after the room settings where you created the local room alias.

Why should I use the Matrix IRC bridge?

Your IRC nickname will be available 24/7 and other people will be able to ping or contact you even if you are away from your computer. This can also be achieved by using an IRC bouncer, but Matrix has several advantages:

How does it compare with IrcsomeBot?

IrcsomeBot is a Telegram bot that can bridge a Telegram group with an IRC channel. However there are the following shortcomings:

A KDE sysadmin needs to setup the bridge between each room/channel. Matrix instead supports out of the box any freenode channel (and also other IRC networks).

IrcsomeBot is the only nickname that joins the IRC channel and forwards the messages sent from Telegram on behalf of their senders. Matrix instead performs a native bridging between the two protocols and creates a real IRC user that joins the IRC channel. Other people will be able to keep the usual IRC workflow with your bridged nickname (/whois, /query, etc.). In fact, they won't even know that you are using the Matrix bridge instead of a classic IRC client.

How do I join an IRC channel?

You can search or browse IRC channels from Riot. Just type the name of the channel you want to join and you are done.

If your favorite matrix client doesn't have a similar feature, you can join any freenode channel by joining the following Matrix room:

#_freenode_#<irc_channel_name>:kde.org

For example, if you want to join the #kde-devel IRC channel, just type:

/join #_freenode_#kde-devel:kde.org

How do I change my IRC nickname?

By default, the IRC bridge will use your matrix display name to generate an IRC nickname (ending with [m]). If you don't like the default nickname, you can change it by sending the following command to the @appservice-irc:matrix.org bot (you will need first to start a private conversation with the bot):

!nick <your_favorite_irc_nickname>

How do I join an IRC channel that requires registered nicknames?

Start by opening a direct chat with NickServ. For freenode, that's @_freenode_NickServ:kde.org. Then send it a message of format:

identify [<nickname>] <password>

— where nickname is optional assuming you are identifying for your current nickname.

To make the bridge store your credentials and log in automatically, in direct chat with the @freenode-irc:kde.org you can use the !storepass <string> command to save a string that is sent in PASS command when your IRC-presence connects.

With freenode you can use:

!storepass nickname:password

How do I change my away status?

The @freenode-irc:kde.org bot accepts raw IRC commands. To set the away status use: